Aircraft electronic apparatus with supporting rack

ABSTRACT

A mounting arrangement for positioning and maintaining in position a chassis having apparatus thereon in a rack permanently mounted in an aircraft. The chassis/rack for airborne electronic apparatus has a unitized construction exemplified by simplicity of inserting and removing the apparatus from the rack-but is yet extremely rugged to withstand the most severe vibration in an aircraft. The latching mechanism comprises a spring-like pivot arm mounted inside of the chassis with a circular button with spherical crown on an end protruding from the chassis for fitting into and securing the apparatus in the rack. The chassis and rack are of given sizes to permit a snug fit interlock.

United States Patent Hamer et al.

[541 AIRCRAFT ELECTRONIC APPARATUS WITH SUPPORTING RACK [72] Inventors:William J. Hamer, 201 Brisbane Avenue, Westerville, Ohio 43081;"

Randal W. Goshen, 3520 Liv-Moor Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43227 22 Filed:March 15,1971 [21 AppLNol: 124,260

[52] US. ..3l7/l20, 220/55 K, 317/101. CB

[51] Int. Cl. ..H02b 1/04,

[58] Field of Search ..220/3.92, 3.94, 234, 55 K, 220/55 Y; 317/99, 101CB, 101 R, 104, 105,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,437,881 4/1969 Paganelli..317/99 3,485,408 12/1969 Benesch .220/55 K 1 Nov. 28, 1972 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 921,395 3/1963 Great Britain ..317/10l CBPrimary Examiner-Lewis l-l. Myers Assistant Examiner-Gerald P. TolinAttomey-Cennamo, Kremblas & Foster [57] ABSTRACT A mounting arrangementfor positioning and mainmining in position a chassis having apparatusthereon in a rack permanently mounted in an aircraft. The chassis/rackfor airbome' electronic apparatus has a unitized constructionexemplified by simplicity of insetting and removing the apparatus fromthe rackbut is yet extremely rugged to withstand the most severevibration in an aircraft. The latching mechanism comprises a spring-likepivot arm mounted inside of the chassis with a circular button withspherical crown on an end protruding from the chassis for fitting intoand securing the apparatus in the rack. The chassis and rack are ofgiven sizes to permit a snug fit interlock.

4 Clains, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNHV I 3.704.395

I SHEEI 1 BF 3 INVENTORS ATTOR'EYS PATENTEDNBY 28 I91? 3. 704, 395

SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTORS FIG.7 WILLIAM J.HAMER BY RANDAL W.GOSHEN CennamoJC'Qm/GJ 8 jodlel' ATTORIEYS AIRCRAFT ELECTRONIC APPARATUS WITHSUPPORTING-RACK BACKGROUND It is conventional in aircraft-whethercivilian or military use -to prefit the aircraft cockpit panel withracks of a standard size. The reasoning is for simplicity ofinterchanging the apparatus according to the needs or alternatively forremoving the apparatus for maintenance and substitution. The racks perse do not pose any particular problems-they are bolted and securelyfastened to the aircraft. The apparatus housed andsupported bythe racksdo pose the problem. In view of excessive vibrations of varying resonantfrequencies encountered in an aircraft the fastening and securing .meansmust be sufficiently rugged to assure that the apparatus-remains inposition; and of equal importance to assure that the interlockingelectrical connector is not disconnected.

v On the other hand the amount of apparatus carried by an aircraft hasits physical limitations. There are SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention provides the need for securely positioning and maintaining inposition apparatusprimarily electronic apparatus-in a rack mounted in anaircraft. The securing means is of a very simple cnstruction and almostpermits the removal of the apparatus as though it were not secured. Inplacing and securing the apparatus in the rack no action is required bythe operator. The apparatus is shoved into the rack and the latchingmechanism is automatically operable. To remove the apparatus from therack a slight press from a single finger of each hand of the operator isall that is required. I

Specifically on either side of the rack a spring baris mounted. The barhas a sufficient length to protrude a given amount beyond the front ofthe rack. At the end of the spring bar a circular spherical crownpush-button is mounted. On the apparatus front panel overlapping sidesthere is a pair of apertures corresponding to the push buttons.

On insertion of the apparatus into the chassis the push-buttons slipinto the apertures and securely hold the apparatus-in place. Uponremoval of the apparatus the push-buttons are depressed beyond theconfines of the aperture and thereby releasing the apparatus from thechassis.

OBJECTS cient to assure permanent positioning-but yet sufficientlysimple for ease of operation.

Another object is to provide such a latching and locking mechanism thatis relatively simple, low in cost, and manufactured easily.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent whentaken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS F IG.- 1 is a schematic illustration of arack that is permanently mounted in an aircraft and showing a portion ofthe present invention;

FIG. 1A illustrates a plug assembly;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the rack of FIG. 1 further showing in detailthe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the rack of FIG. 1 together with theapparatus positioned therein with the latching mechanism of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a front panel view of the apparatus positioned in the aircraftmounted rack and showing the detent buttons of the present invention;

FIG. 6 isa side view of the chassis supporting the apparatus and showingthe position of the apertures; and

FIG. 7 is an over-all view, in perspective, of the apparatus positionedin the rack mounted on an aircraft panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the figures,there is shown various aspects of the invention comprising latching andlocking means for securely positioning apparatus in an aircraft panelmounted rack. With particular reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a rack10 of more or less conventional design and adapted to be permanentlymounted in an aircraft.

Centrally positioned on either side of the inside of rack 10 are springbars 12 and 14. These bars may be bronze ora high-grade spring steel.The bars 12 and 14 are of length to provide permanent mounting such asat 16 and 18 by rivets and at 20 and 22 on bar 14 also by rivets; and ofa length to extend a given amount beyond the end of the rack 10. Theextended amount is deter mined by the position of the apertures 40 and42 in front panel sides as described hereinafter. On the extended end ofthe spring bars 12 and 14 are a pair of circular spherical crowneddetent buttons 30 and 32 respectively. The buttons 30 and 32 are eachfastened to their respective spring bars by riveting the button shanksuch as shown in the side view of the preferred arrangement of FIG. 3.

The apparatus-which in most instances will be electronic-4s mounted on achassis 50 shownin FIGS. 6 and 7. The chassis has triangular shapedsides with a flat bottom plate. The shape of the chassis allows for easeof placement. Fixedly mounted on the front of the chassis 50 is thefront panel 54. The front panel 54 has fouroverlapping sides such asshown by top overlap 58 and lefthand overlap 56 and right-hand overlap57 The front panel 54 has a cross sectional and longitudinal dimensiongreater than that of the chassis 50. In this way there is a spacingbetween the chassis 50 outside wall and the inside of the side laps 56and 57. \Vith reference to FIG. 4 the front panel 54 is shown to bemounted to the sides 60 and 62 of the chassis 50 by way of cross bars 64and 66 engaging the angled in portions 68 and 69. It is seen in FIG. 4that the front panel 54 extends beyond the ,cross dimension of thechassis a length sufficient to permit the sides 56 and 57 of front panel54 to overlap the detent buttons when the chassis is positioned therein.

In the overlap sides 56 and 57 of the front panel 54 there ispositioned-an aperture 40 and 42 respectively. The position of theaperture is such to permit the registry and reception of the detentbuttons 30 and 32 when the chassis 50 is positioned in the rack 10. Theregistry of the detent buttons in the apertures is shown explicitly inFIGS. 3 and 4.

Also to be noted in FIG. 4 is that the side walls of the chassis issufficiently smaller than the inside walls of the rack '10, therebyproviding ample clearance for the riveted spring bars 12 and 14.

FIG. 5 is a front panel view and FIG. 6 is a side view and FIG. 7 is aperspective view of the entire combination of the preferred embodiment.From these overall views, it can be seen that the chassis 50 is slidablyinserted into the rack 10. When chassis 50 is all the way in the roundedtop detent buttons fit and seat themselves in their respective aperturesin the overlap sides of the front panel 54. It is noted further that thedetent buttons 30 and 32 are spherically crowned with a straight shankportion. In operation then the spherical portion of the detent buttons30 and 32 permit entry easily into their respective apertures; but onceinserted the spring bars 12 and 14 cause the buttons 30 and 32 to make acomplete entry. The straight shank portion of the buttons 30 and 32engage the aperture walls locking the chassis 50 to the rack 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 7, to secure the chassis 50 in therack there is fixedly mounted in a central position the female latch 42on the rack 10. On the inside end of the chassis 50 there is fixedlymounted a male latch insert. The male insert 44 is positioned on thechassis 50 to be fitted into the slot 46 of the female latch 42.Further, the insert 44 has an aperture centrally positioned therein.Locking means may be utilized to lock the chassis 50 into Rack 10. Sincethe chassis 50, as pointed out above, is smaller in size than rack l0,vibration would occur. The latching mechanism 42-44 further acts tocentrally position the chassis in the rack and eliminate lateralmovement of the chassis 50 within the rack 10.

Although certain and specific embodiments have been shown, it is to beunderstood that modifications may be made without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A mounting arrangement for positioning and retaining in position anelectronic apparatus bearing chassis in a rack permanently mounted in anaircraft comprising:

a rack having side and top walls providing an elongated box-likestructure with front and rear open ends,

the inside of said sidewalls each having fixedly positioned thereon .alength of spring-like metal,

said spring metals extending beyond the side fronts of said open end ofsaid r a ck, a detent button fixedly positioned on each of said extendedends of said spring-like metal;

a chassis with electronic working apparatus having side walls, the crossdimension of said side walls being sufficiently smaller than the insidewall cross dimension of said rack;

a front panel on said chassis, said front panel having overlapping endsand a cross dimension sufficiently great to permit said overlapping endsto align with said side walls of said rack,

said overlapping ends of said front panel having an apertures formedtherein receiving and seating said detent buttons, a receptaclecentrally positioned on the rear open end of said rack; and a plug onsaid chassis centrally positioned on the rear end thereof positivelyengaging said receptacle.

2. A mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plug onsaid chassis has an aperture therein positively receiving said lockingmeans.

3. A mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said detentbutton is semicircular in shape.

4. A mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidsemicircular shape of said detent button further comprises an extendedstraight portion.

1. A mounting arrangement for positioning and retaining in position anelectronic apparatus bearing chassis in a rack permanently mounted in anaircraft comprising: a rack having side and top walls providing anelongated box-like structure with front and rear open ends, the insideof said sidewalls each having fixedly positioned thereon a length ofspring-like metal, said spring metals extending beyond the side frontsof said open end of said rack, a detent button fixedly positioned oneach of said extended ends of said spring-like metal; a chassis withelectronic working apparatus having side walls, the cross dimension ofsaid side walls being sufficiently smaller than the inside wall crossdimension of said rack; a front panel on said chassis, said front panelhaving overlapping ends and a cross dimension sufficiently great topermit said overlapping ends to align with said side walls of said rack,said overlapping ends of said front panel having an apertures formedtherein receiving and seating said detent buttons, a receptaclecentrally positioned on the rear open end of said rack; and a plug onsaid chassis centrally positioned on the rear end thereof positivelyengaging said receptacle.
 2. A mounting arrangement as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said plug on said chassis has an aperture thereinpositively receiving said locking means.
 3. A mounting arrangement asset forth in claim 1 wherein said detent button is semicircular inshape.
 4. A mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidsemicircular shape of said detent button further comprises an extendedstraight portion.